apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

At the Museum of Modern Art in New York, there is a wall of moss installed for the Olafur Eliasson exhibit. It is made of treated reindeer moss, and though it smells and looks like it is still alive, it is technically dead and will not cause harm to a home. Walls like this are created by putting up a screen of chicken wire and then taking handfulls of moss and inserting them into the screen. When you take enough tightly in your hand, you can put it just inside the screen and let go. The moss will spring open and stick to the wire. After enough of it is installed you don't even see the wire anymore.

Here is a good source of inspiration for green walls:
http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/

These look pretty easy to install and are not that expensive: http://www.eltlivingwalls.com/
But I bet you could build something similar with plastic troughs and chicken wire. Sedums are a easy plant to grow if you don’t want to water often: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedum

Chancepinup’s comment reminds me of moss graffiti: http://storiesfromspace.co.uk/data/html/mossgraffiti.html
If you want to grow vines up a wall you could try a product like greenscreen: http://www.greenscreen.com

It's possible to make a sculpture/form out of a floral design product called Oasis. This is the spongy thing at the base of the floral arrangement whenyou get/send flowers. It is similar to floral foam, but more absorbent, holding the water for days.
http://www.smithersoasis.com

Alternately, you could build a living wall out of air plants, ones that don't need dirt.

I have a living wall of ivy that attaches by suckers to my garage (not good for siding) I also have grapevine vine as a living screen that basically attaches to anything it can find by twining, including other plants/trees.
Then I have a wall covered by an espaliered tree, kind of like this, but much bushier. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1117/879558312_a237700bc6.jpg?v=0

Oh, there was an article in Architectural Record that should help: http://archrecord.construction.com/features/digital/archives/0702dignews-1.asp

Good luck with your greening!

One idea that is beautiful and green also helps to make your home more solar efficient. The use of "greenscreens" - deciduous plants (the ones that lose their leaves in the winter) can shade your home in the hot summer sun and reduce cooling costs. In the winter, when the plants lose their leaves, they will allow the sun can help heat your home.

The two most common plants I have seen used for this type of "greenscreen" is Virginia Creeper (a type of ivy that turns beautiful colors in the fall) and hop plants. Virginia creeper actually grows up the wall -- hops require wires to climb up. Both are beautiful and both use passive solar concepts to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Wow - I just stayed at that hotel (W Atlanta Midtown) over Memorial Day weekend! I was trying to figure out how they did that, too!

The Chicago Botanic Garden has a great example and "how- to-build-this" exhibit on their fruit and vegetable island. I know it is far from the city, but the trip is well worth it- especially if you can get there during the week...